“Dan - it’s time for change.  Lower the Drink Tax now!”

The L. A. Times ran a recent story on how, in down economies, consumers will trade down premium liquors, wines and beers for economy versions, or will just stay home.  But the hospitality industry is not hurting, right Dan? http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-happy10-2009jan10,0,3884861.story?page=2

Off the topic, an article in the Toronto Globe & Mail talks about the Portuguese wine Madiera being the toast of choice of presidents historically (appropos to our new President being inaugurated in a few days).  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090114.wdecanter14/BNStory/lifeFoodWine/home

Dan can toast himself with Madiera during his victory celebration in Harrisburg in 2010.  In his dreams.  

Nation’s Restaurant News ran a recent story noting that this is the most challenging time in history in the restaurant industry, and sharing survival strategies of national operators. 

http://www.nrn.com/breakingNews.aspx?id=362108&menu_id=1368

“Hey Dan - be sure to throw one down for me on Sunday!!!”

The County Diminutive, according to various talk radio sources, including Marty Griffin, is attending Sunday’s AFC Championship game as the guest of the Sports and Exhibition Authority. 

One can only hope that Dan the Dictator takes the opportunity to politely request that Aramark drop the price of its beer at Heinz Field now that the Drink Tax has been dropped to 7%. 

Hey, it could happen.  Dan frequently stands up to his big time corporate benefactors, if only to be consistent with his criticism of small businesspeople. 

It could happen.  It could also happen that Tom Paine gets a date with Scarlett Johannsen. 

“Dan - even I can see through your bull****”

Dan “the Dictator” Onorato, clearly on the “hopes to be governor” circuit, was kissing babies and making asinine statements at the state farm show outside of Harrisburg. 

According to the Post-Gazette, while at the farm show he was asked by a Philadelphia reporter whether the Drink Tax controversy had hurt his chances to be governor.  Dan “the Dictator” said no - the controversy was dead since the tax was lowered to 7%.  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09012/941209-178.stm

Say what?  Dan - the Drink Tax was covered non-stop over the past two weeks when you had your rump slapped by a Judge for trying to bogart Drink Tax revenues for your own general pork projects.   If that was bad, just think what the conventional wisdom will be should the Referendum to lower the Drin Tax to .5% is placed on the ballot by the Supreme Court.  Or if a few of your quislings on County Council bite the dust this year  . . .

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has set the oral argument for the case involving the Referendum sought by Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation.  The Referendum looks to roll the Drink Tax back to .5%.  Lower courts had ruled that, despite the County Code’s apparent authorization, state law did not permit referenda to raise or lower tax rates.   The argument is set for March 4 in Pittsburgh. 

“Why don’t those nasty boys leave you alone, Dan?”

Joseph Sabino Mistick, erstwhile (read unsuccessful) judicial candidate, member of the Allegheny County political machine, and Luciano Pavrotti lookalike tells Drink Tax opponents in the Tribune Review that they have overplayed their hand.  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_606454.html

First, he notes that the Drink Tax opponents should be satisfied with Dan’s (grudging) lowering of the tax to 7%, and appear ungrateful since they don’t.

Then, he somehow spins a court victory for Drink Tax opponents which prevented Onorato from transferring Drink Tax monies into a defeat.  Supposedly, this is because Dan the Dictator thinks he can direct Drink Tax monies overcollected in 2008 directly to the Pork Authority for capital projects.  That may be so, but it misses the point:  Because of this judicial decision, Dictator Dan cannot now or in the future stick his snout into the Drink Tax fund for his pet projects on the General Budget.  It also means it’s less likely that he will try to raise the tax back to 10%.   So please, Pavrotti, either think of the big picture or limit your comments to your local ward committee meetings. 

The Allegheny Institute (not to be confused with the hypocritical running dog Allegheny Conference) has given thoughtful analysis to the Drink Tax question.  Here is a link to it’s website.  http://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/drinktax.php?gclid=CIT3_4KSiJgCFQGHHgodPjIJDw

Dan “the Dictator” Onorato seems to be becoming completely unhinged by his latest court setback, when a judge declared illegal his plan to siphon away Drink Tax revenues from the Port Authority for his pet projects.   It seems that he has now taken to writing letters to the Post-Gazette in response to letters written by just plain old citizens.  You’d hope he’d answer letters directed to him as County Diminutive as quickly and in such detail, but that is certainly too much to ask.   http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09009/940598-35.stm